Network Synchronization for System Configuration Exchanges

1. An apparatus, comprising: a processing element configured to: perform a handshake procedure with a cellular base station (BS) to exchange configuration parameters for cellular communication between a user equipment (UE) and the BS, wherein the selected configuration parameters comprise at least discontinuous reception configuration parameters; initiate discontinuous reception operation according to the configuration parameters; initiate a timing alignment timer; determine that the timing alignment timer has expired; fall back to a default discontinuous reception configuration based on the timing alignment timer expiration if a handshake procedure to exchange configuration parameters between the UE device and the BS has occurred within a predetermined period of time; and release all uplink and downlink resources if no handshake procedure to exchange configuration parameters between the EE device and the BS has occurred within the predetermined period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing element is further configured to: initiate a prohibit timer based on the handshake procedure, wherein before expiration of the prohibit timer the apparatus and the BS are prohibited from changing the selected configuration parameters.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processing element is further configured to: initiate a confirmation timer based on the handshake procedure, wherein the prohibit timer is initiated upon expiration of the confirmation timer or if the selected configuration parameters are confirmed prior to expiration of the confirmation timer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of: physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) configuration parameters; sounding reference symbol (SRS) configuration parameters; scheduling request (SR) configuration parameters; RRC inactivity timer settings; DRX inactivity timer settings; short DRX cycle timer settings; DRX OnDuration settings; or one or more other DRX settings.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handshake procedure comprises: transmitting an indication of one or more preferred configuration parameters to the BS; receiving an indication of one or more selected configuration parameters from the base station, wherein the selected configuration parameters are selected based at least in part on the indicated preferred configuration parameters; transmitting a confirmation of the selected configuration parameters to the base station.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handshake procedure comprises: receiving an indication of one or more possible configuration settings from the BS; transmitting an indication of one or more preferred configuration settings to the BS in response to the indicated possible configuration settings; and implementing the preferred configuration settings during cellular communication with the BS.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handshake procedure comprises exchanging media access control (MAC) control elements (CEs) between the apparatus and the BS.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration parameters are selected based at least in part on application characteristics of one or more applications executing on the apparatus.

9. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising: an antenna; a radio coupled to the antenna; and a processing element coupled to the radio; wherein the UE device is configured to: perform a handshake procedure with a cellular base station (BS) to exchange configuration parameters for cellular communication between the UE device and the BS; implement the selected configuration parameters; determine that a timing alignment timer expiration has occurred; fall back to a default discontinuous reception configuration based on the timing alignment timer expiration if a handshake procedure to exchange configuration parameters between the UE device and the BS has occurred within a predetermined period of time; and release all uplink and downlink resources if no handshake procedure to exchange configuration parameters between the UE device and the BS has occurred within the predetermined period of time.

10. The UE device of claim 9 , wherein the handshake procedure specifies a system frame number and subframe number at which the selected configuration parameters take effect, wherein the UE device is further configured to implement the selected configuration parameters at the specified system frame number and subframe number.

11. The UE device of claim 10 , wherein the selected configuration parameters comprise at least discontinuous reception configuration parameters, wherein the UE device is further configured to: start discontinuous reception operation according to the configuration parameters at the specified system frame number and subframe number; and start the timing alignment timer at the specified system frame number and subframe number.

12. A cellular base station (BS), comprising: an antenna; a radio coupled to the antenna; a processing element; wherein the BS is configured to: perform a handshake procedure with a wireless user equipment (UE) device to exchange configuration parameters for cellular communication between the UE device and the BS; determine that a timing alignment timer expiration has occurred; fall back to a default DRX configuration with the UE device based on the timing alignment timer expiration if a handshake procedure to exchange configuration parameters between the UE device and the BS has occurred within a predetermined period of time; and release all uplink and downlink resources of the UE device if no handshake procedure to exchange configuration parameters between the UE device and the BS has occurred within the predetermined period of time.

13. The BS of claim 12 , wherein the BS is further configured to: start discontinuous reception operation with the UE device according to the configuration parameters at the specified system frame number and subframe number; and start the timing alignment timer for the UE device at the specified system frame number and subframe number.

14. The BS of claim 12 , wherein the BS is further configured to: initiate a prohibit timer based on the handshake procedure, wherein before expiration of the prohibit timer the UE device and the BS are prohibited from changing the selected configuration parameters.

15. The BS of claim 14 , wherein the BS is further configured to: initiate a confirmation timer based on the handshake procedure, wherein the prohibit timer is initiated upon expiration of the confirmation timer or if the selected configuration parameters are confirmed prior to expiration of the confirmation timer.

16. The BS of claim 12 , wherein to perform the handshake procedure, the BS is further configured to: receive an indication of one or more preferred configuration parameters from the UE device; transmit an indication of one or more selected configuration parameters to the UE device, wherein the selected configuration parameters are selected based at least in part on the indicated preferred configuration parameters; receive a confirmation of the selected configuration parameters from the UE device.

17. The BS of claim 12 , wherein to perform the handshake procedure, the BS is further configured to: transmit an indication of one or more possible configuration settings to the UE device; receive an indication of one or more preferred configuration settings from the UE device in response to the indicated possible configuration implement the preferred configuration settings during cellular communication with the UE device.

18. The B S of claim 12 , wherein the configuration parameters are selected based at least in part on application characteristics of one or more applications executing on the UE device.